BEIJING -- To date, Chinese public security authorities have issued a total of 16,000 test licenses for autonomous vehicles, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Tuesday.

At a news conference in Beijing, the ministry also revealed that 32,000 kilometers of roads nationwide have been opened for autonomous vehicle testing.

These initiatives have provided strong support for the advancement of autonomous driving technology in China, said Wang Qiang, a senior official from the ministry.

He noted that the ministry has collaborated with relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Transport, to improve management and support for the autonomous driving industry.

Over the years, regulations and law provisions have been formulated or revised to govern various aspects of the industry in China, including road testing, registration, and traffic safety liability for driverless vehicles.

The ministry will continue working to promote the autonomous driving industry and the upgrading of the automotive industry in China, Wang stated.

Also highlighted at the news conference were the reform measures implemented by traffic management authorities to streamline services for issuing licenses, handling traffic accidents, and other aspects of traffic management.

According to data from the ministry, a total of 250 million digital driver's licenses have been issued nationwide to date. Additionally, a pilot program for digital vehicle licenses has been launched in 60 cities, including Beijing, with digital vehicle licenses issued to over 22 million vehicle owners so far.